Running Game

by columbus.coltsfan on Jan 5, 2009 8:48 AM EST Comment 27 comments

As everyone of us already knows the Indianapolis Colts running game is non existant. My question for you guys is, is the blame to be put on the offensive line or the runningbacks? Do you think we should make a run at the Edge, or do you think he's too far into his career? Seeing the Colts lose Saturday was heartbreaking. I do think that a running game would've put us over the top.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.

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Totally agree about the run game

I don’t think either Addai or Rhodes are a premier back, though both are good and Addai is an excellent blocker and both can catch the ball well (which is very important in our offense). Addai wasn’t that healthy this year, but I think the bigger problem stems from the offensive line. How many different starters and configurations of people did we have over the course of the season? Lilja was never there, charlie johnson was switched to a new position and we had 3 rookies (Pollak, Justice and Richards) in and out. Add to the fact that Peyton didn’t practice with them in the offseason and I think that was the bigger problem. Teams with good offensive line play generally have consistency in who starts every week.

They may have focussed more on pass blocking to protect peyton given how he really wasn’t that sound early in the season.

An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...

by bluegirl on Jan 5, 2009 9:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Offensive line problems

No question.

by coltsfanawalt on Jan 5, 2009 10:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not Sure, but

I would have really liked to have taken another back early in the draft last year. I just think that Addai might not be the type of back that we can ride in the future. He doesn’t deliver hits on the defense and doesn’t really strike fear into opposing defenses. And maybe the line is the problem but his yards per carry have decreased the last two years from where it was in his rookie year.

by ThirtyOne on Jan 5, 2009 10:35 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Something needs to be done.

Probably a combination of another back and fixing the o-line, although I guess that’s fairly obvious.

by beckmania on Jan 5, 2009 11:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think if we can get a bulldozer in the draft, we do so. But it’s mostly the offensive line. But you can understand if, with Peyton coming back from a knee injury, we concentrated on getting the pass protection right this season. And it’s a young line.

by eltharion_doa on Jan 5, 2009 11:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hart

Don’t forget about Mike Hart, i think we do need to fix the offensive line but i always thought up until he got injured that he should have been given more plays. I think that Addai isn’t as good as the colts hoped he was going to be. I don’t know if anyone else thinks this but Addai seems to dance around in the backfield when he gets a hand off whereas more succesful backs this year seem to run hard as soon as they get the ball in their hands such as AP. Edge would be good only problem being his age but i do think we should look more at Hart and then possibly another back in the draft. But lets hope for an injury free offseason and training camp.

by sharpie1600 on Jan 5, 2009 12:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Mike Hart really excited me during that game against the Ravens, and I’m still upset that he got injured. He seemed very promising; I hope he recovers and is still effective. Another thing, do you think the Colts need a big, strong back like Brandon Jacobs whose gonna create his own gap whether or not the o-line makes it for him?

by KMR24 on Jan 5, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jacobs

I love his running style. And you’re right – he isn’t really dependent upon the O-Line creating lanes for him…I wish we had someone like that! Funny, Edge had a great game Saturday. Did anyone notice that Edge runs to the outside. I cannot for the life me figure out why they keep sending Addai up the middle…ugh!!! Run outstide…or put Dom in.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Jan 5, 2009 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jacobs is actually a UFA

but he has worse hands than Kenton Keith (no lie, he was one of 2-3 players with a higher drop %)

Shonn Greene for Heisman
Doak Walker award winner
144 yards per game
6.2 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA

by shake n bake on Jan 5, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dom

I haven’t read every word on this blog since the defeat, but one thing I don’t hear much chatter about is Dom’s disapperance on Saturday. Seriously, only 4 touches? The last month at least of the regular season Dom looked like the superior back. Even if Addai was fully healthy and ready to reclaim the unquestioned starting job, how do you give only 4 touches to your most productive back? Was it the rib injury? I’ve heard not a peep.

by ctnyc on Jan 5, 2009 5:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I noticed that.

He disappeared.

Note to Colts Coaching Staff: QUIT. SENDING. JOE. UP. THE. MIDDLE!

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Jan 5, 2009 7:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Offensive line

make no question about it. Even when several starter came back into the lineup, there were still times when they had to go max protect for Peyton. With Lilja being out, Pollak still learning, Diem on the decline, and Ugoh having an up and down year, the line was simply to inconsistent in pass pro and non existent in the run game. I think that we should draft a new RT after getting ourselves a defensive tackle. Diem needs to go.

by metal_militia on Jan 5, 2009 2:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agree.

What about Ugoh? He didn’t have a stellar year….

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Jan 5, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hence up and down

The line certainly got better when Ugoh was reinserted. He isnt excused, but he is less responsible for the breakdown.

by metal_militia on Jan 5, 2009 6:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think

That what we do is this:

-Go for a first round talent at OT.
-Move Ugoh to RT
-Cut Diem
-Heal up Addai and Hart
-Go after Edge if he’s cheap
-If we can’t get him, go after a 3rd or 4th round RB
-Bring Lilja back into the line
-Focus on coaching up Pollak

I also wish I had time and motivation to blog at Speed Blue Nation

by Bullard47 on Jan 5, 2009 2:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I definitely agree about Ugoh.

Keep him away from Peyton’s blind side..

Edge, Edge, Edge!!!

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on Jan 5, 2009 3:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Peyton can get blindsided from the right too

He never saw Gijon’s blown block that almost got him sacked in the endzone.

Ugoh might be better off at RT, but they’ll have to find a great player to be able to take over LT right away.

I’d cut Diem, if a first round graded OT was available at their pick take him, if not take 2 later in the draft and have them compete with CJ for the RT spot.

Shonn Greene for Heisman
Doak Walker award winner
144 yards per game
6.2 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA

by shake n bake on Jan 5, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Only if they trade up

The only way I see us getting a first round talent OT is to get 2 first round draft picks or get one from FA (which is almost definitely not going to happen, especially since our cap space isn’t looking too good). Polian all but said a few weeks ago that it looks like they’re going to be taking a DT in the first round. And as well as the Colts did this Saturday, an unhealthy LT and Sproles can make a run defense look better than it is.

And we’ve had some injuries with our blocking TEs this year. They were drafted mainly for their blocking ability and Gijon wasn’t intended to be a starter.

In all honesty it’s probably a combination of the backs not having a great year/injuries and the same on the O-line. But I think alot has to do with the creativity in the play calling. Seems our coaches spend the entire week designing pass plays but when it comes to the run game it’s either a stretch or a dive. That’s it. We had that one play in the Jags game where Pollack pulled from the right side to the left and we got like 12 yards, but then we got an illegal motion penalty.

Just too predictable in the running game. No reason people are playing pass coverage the entire game and we can’t get more than second to last in rushing offense. And if the Cardinals weren’t idiots and had their butts sore because Edge wasn’t singing and dancing for them, they wouldn’t be last, we would.

by monstersbox on Jan 5, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

O-Line

I used to think it was the backs, but there were no holes for Addai or Rhodes to get through. Even AP needs a hole to run through. I think it’s definitely an offensive line issue.

by JonCllns on Jan 5, 2009 3:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

OL

it starts up front. addai and rhodes didnt have many holes to run through the whole year it will improve a lot by getting lilja back and having a consistant offensive line week in and week out and i think we should have a 3 back system with using hart or maybe signing the edge will help

by manningmachine on Jan 5, 2009 5:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Lilja

I can’t help but laugh to think that our OL’s run blocking is poor because we’re missing a 290-lb, one-time-UDFA guard…

by hahasound on Jan 6, 2009 8:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's more of the straw that broke the back

Tarik Glenn, Jake Scott, Lilja, Saturday at times, Ugoh, you name it.

And yeah, we were healthier than we’d been all season but we were still missing 2 lineman. I guess we probably should wait for the witch hunt until we can evaluate the game with a completely healthy line.

by monstersbox on Jan 6, 2009 8:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

It is hard to tell exactly where the problem was with so many things that weren’t right this season. It may not have been any one thing… just all the injuries and changes combined were too much. A line and backs need to work as a unit, and if they keep making changes it is hard to stay functional

An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing...

by bluegirl on Jan 6, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How is that so hard to believe considering the makeup of the entire team?

by KingRichard on Jan 6, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hah,

good point.

Though.. I think the philosophy of “quicker but smaller 100% of the time” may finally be biting us in the ass (most notably regarding the O- and D- lines..)

Though.. I think the philosophy of “quicker but smaller 100% of the time” may finally be biting us in the ass (most notably regarding the O- and D- lines..)The strange thing is that… I was one of the people partially blaming our crappy running game on the absence of Lilja.

by hahasound on Jan 7, 2009 11:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You know who I would love to see join our OL?

Alex Mack: http://calbears.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mack_alex03.html

Even though he’s a premier center, I know that Coach Tedford had been experimenting with him at other positions. The guy is quality.

by LovinBlue on Jan 6, 2009 12:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Combo

I think the issues are a combo of both bad OL and avg RB ability, specifically Addai and his dancing with the stars tryouts during games.

I would say though the OL is more to blame. well, probably Howard Mudd is the most to blame since it is his job to coach these guys and he is supposedly a great OL guy. A great coach after 18 weeks makes things better and that didn’t happen. If anything the OL got worse in terms of run blocking as the season went on.

by loregnum on Jan 7, 2009 11:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs